The National tribune., 1887-04-14
AT PORT GIBSON.
18th Ind. Man Who Differs from Capt. swigart.


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Capt. Frank
Swigart, 10th Ind, writing on the Vicksburg
campaign up to and including the battle of
Magnolia Hill, or Port Gibson, makes several
mistakes which, with the usual liberty taken
by the members of Fighting Them Over"
will proceed to correct. In speaking of the
gunboat Benton, he says:
The vessel had been struck many times and in
dentations were made in her armor that man
could lay his hat in. No shots, however, pene-
trated the armor
No doubt the Captain had reference to the
bow of the boat although he did not qualify
his statement. If he had been inside instead of
being placed outside on the bow, he could have
seen the effects of the rebel batteries to better
advantage. 1 remember one very large hole
made by shell or solid shot on the starboard
side of the vessel and just forward Of the second
port, which must have killed or wounded every
man on that side of the gun.
In giving the composition of Hovey's Divis-
ion, he names the 1st Mich. as one of the bat
teries. There were only four batteries in the
division, viz, 1st Wis, I'd Mo, I'd and 10Th
| Ohio-23 guns in ALL Regarding the forma-
tion of the new line Of battle in the afternoon,
the Captain says:
At the time this was done the 10Th Wis for some
placed at the foot of the HILL and about
200 yards in front of the brigade line of battle In
front of the position Of the 10Th was thick under
within a few yards of that regiment quite distance
to- the 'front.' Under cover of this, about oclOek,
the rebels made a fierce attack the 10Th. The
Wisconsin men stood up manfuy and fought like
veterans. although they were then comparatively
new troops.
No doubt the Captain took it for granted
that this regiment was the 29th Wis, mistake
very easily made from the fact that the 29th
and the 9th and 2Sth Iowa, of the Second Bril-
gade, were uniformed exactly alike, and en-
9Th -
the division.
After we swung around to the left and formed
| the new line of battle, there was no fighting
| done by any part of the First Brigade. know
positively that the Iowa boys occupied the
ground on which the Captain locates the Goth
| Wis. at the time mentioned, as went over the
ground shortly after and saw the dead with
the numbers on their caps. One man / noticed
particularly who had been shot squarely in
the left eye by very small ball or buckshot,
as his eyelids were not touched.
The Captains last mistake is in the position
assigned the 18th Ohio battery and the killing
of the rebel officer Regarding this the Cap
tain says:
While we were in that position a squad of rebel
horsemen were seen under n magnolia tree, about
mile in front of us. Capt. Mitchell, of the 10th
Ohio battery which was in line just to the left of our
regiment had one of his guns unlmbered, and at
tne third discharge scattered the group. We after
/ at that time and under thai tree.
At this time our regiment was on the ex-
| treme right, and the 10th Ohio battery was
| Immediately in rear of Co. /, and about 80 feet
/ distant, with all the guns unlimbered and point
ing toward the woods on our left front, where
Osterhaus was still pounding away at the John.
nies. The officer in question came out of the
woods into an open space on point of the hill
seemingly, just in front of Osterhaus, and ap-
peared to be watching the fight in that direc-
/ tion- Gen. McGinnis was lying just at my
| side, and when I saw this officer ride out
called the Generals attention to him. He
arose TO his knees, took a look through hi:
/ glass, dropped il and called out:
"Corpl Mitchell Where is Corp1 Mitchell p
| The Corporal jumped up and answered, Here
| sir"
Then Gen. McGinnis, pointing to the rebel
officer, said Can you hit that man from here p
The Corporal said, - don't know, sir; will
| try"
The gun was loaded and fred. If I am moi
mistaken there was only one shot fred, and
/ the gun was loaded with q solid shot. / heard
| the next day that the officer had both legs shot
| off, / don't think Corpl Mitchell would want
three shots at a mounted man at that distance
If be had missed him the second time he would
have become disgusted and quit.-R. II. MAR
| TIN, Co. /, 10th Ind, Delphos, o.